Remote monitoring of factory automation users

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring a factory automation product via a communications network. The factory automation product is installed at an installation site having an installation site address and includes identifiable information such as a product number, a version number, a serial number and a MAC address. By obtaining the installation site address and the identifiable information, it is possible to associate the installation site address to the factory automation product based on the identifiable information. Based on the installation site address, it is possible to determine whether the factory automation product is used in violation of licenses.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to a method and system for monitoring users of factory automation products and, in particular, to such monitoring over the Internet and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A local area network system, such as the Ethernet, can be used for industrial control applications. Such a network system can be used to enable programmable controllers, host computers, control devices, such as adjustable frequency drives, and other automation devices to communicate through the production areas of an industrial plant. The devices connected together in such a communication link are generally referred to as “nodes”. Each node has a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address as an identifier of the node to allow messages from one node to be sent to another. In an automated factory where a plurality of automation devices are used to perform a variety of intended functions, each automation device has a controller, such as a progra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]It is possible to obtain the identifiable information from a registration process, wherein an applet is delivered to the user of the product, requiring the user to register the product over the internet via an email or a web browser form.

[0009]It is possible to obtain the identifiable information from a message provided by an embedded mechanism, which is embedded in the product and capable of providing the message over the communications network.

[0010]It is possible to obtain the installation site address from a signal provided by a site locator associated with the product.

[0013]It is possible to generate one or more information lists based on the identifiable information stored in the database using customer registration over the internet, the MAC addresses or IP addresses so that the lists can be used to check for export compliance, for license violation and to notify the customer of quality and safety problems.

Problems solved by technology

However, it is not as easy to keep track of a factory automation device from the outside of that local area network system.

It is even more difficult to monitor a factory automation product that does not have a MAC address or other address accessible via a communications network.

For example, it is rather difficult for the manufacturer of a software program or other similar factory automation product to identify the user of the product in order to determine whether the product is used in violation of licenses, or to notify the user of product safety or quality issues.

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